Editor: The following article is offered for your free use
provided The Resource Box is included. HOW SAFE IS FLYING TODAY?
By Laura Quarantiello © Tiare Publications Group 440 words
More than a year after the September 11th attacks, many
travelers are still wary of boarding commercial aircraft for
fear of further terrorist activity. Though the government has
taken steps to increase air travel safety - including creating
of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), placing sky
marshals aboard aircraft, and requiring that all airport
security in this country be handled by federal employees - they
have stopped short of deeming air travel safe, saying that they
cannot offer the public a blanket guarantee of protection. So
how safe is flying today? Should you be concerned the next time
you step aboard a commercial airliner? Safety at United States
airports is better than it ever has been. Only ticketed
passengers are now allowed past security checkpoints and all
passengers are required to show a government-issued
identification card (such as a driver's license or military ID)
at the ticket counter, security checkpoint, and boarding gate.
More passengers and their carry-on luggage are being searched
and screened before boarding. Carry-on bags have been limited to
one piece plus one personal item per passenger and no knives,
box cutters, or other sharp objects are allowed. More explosives
detection machines are in place to check luggage and the
government is moving toward having all bags screened by the end
of the year. A program known as CAPPS (Computer Assisted
Prescreening System) is being used at many airports to identify
suspicious passengers who are then taken aside and thoroughly
searched. There is no question that the new security measures
have raised the safety level. Everyone from skycaps to security
officers to flight attendants is now more aware of the potential
for trouble and are on the alert both for suspicious passengers
and questionable items in baggage. It is this level of
awareness, more than anything else, that makes flying one of the
safest means of travel there is.
You can be an unofficial member of the security team by doing
your part to contribute to an uneventful flight: Watch for
unattended luggage or bags in the airport terminal or curbside
area and report them to security.
Control your own luggage by keeping it with you at all times.
Refuse anyone's attempts to get you to take items aboard the
aircraft for them.
Don't be afraid to report "odd" behavior from other passengers,
but do it discretely - you could be wrong.
Don't discuss terrorism, bombs, guns, etc., but you may consider
reporting someone who is talking about these things.
Comply with all security requirements, even if it means
unpacking your bags to satisfy screeners.
Don't try to carry prohibited items aboard such as corkscrews,
golf clubs, ski poles or tools.
Have electronic devices ready for screening at the security
checkpoint.
Pack metal objects you might otherwise wear in your carry-on bag
instead of trying to wear them through security checkpoints.
Following the above suggestions will make your trip through
airport security smoother and might even stop another tragedy
before it happens.
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